Canadian space technology firm MDA Space has expanded its contract with Globalstar to develop next-generation low Earth orbit satellites, bringing the total value of the deal to C$1.1 billion. The agreement will see MDA manufacture over 50 advanced digital satellites, reinforcing Globalstar’s position in the competitive satellite communications market.
The US Louisiana-based Globalstar, partly owned by Apple, provides satellite-based phone and data transmission services. This contract expansion adds approximately C$750 million to Canadian MDA’s order backlog for early 2025, following an initial C$350 million commitment in late 2023.
With demand for satellite connectivity rising, companies like Globalstar are competing with major players such as SpaceX’s Starlink. MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley confirmed that the company is now moving ‘full speed ahead’ with production, highlighting the growing importance of satellite infrastructure in global communications.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Elon Musk has confirmed he has no intention of purchasing TikTok, despite speculation and suggestions from former US President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a summit hosted by The WELT Group, Musk stated he had not made a bid for the app and had no plans for its future. He also noted that he does not use TikTok personally and is unfamiliar with its format.
The billionaire emphasised that acquiring companies is rare for him, with his high-profile purchase of Twitter, now X, being an exception. He reiterated his preference for building businesses from the ground up rather than taking over existing ones.
ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, has been under pressure to sell its US assets due to concerns about data security and potential government influence.
Apple and Google have yet to reinstate TikTok in their app stores since new US legislation took effect. In response, TikTok has enabled Android users to download the app directly from its website.
Trump has suggested that multiple parties are in discussions over the platform’s future, with a final decision expected soon.
ByteDance has consistently denied any plans to sell TikTok, despite mounting political scrutiny. Trump, who once sought to ban the app, has recently expressed support for it, citing its role in his popularity among young voters.
No official response has been provided by ByteDance or TikTok regarding the ongoing situation.
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok held discussions on Monday regarding the US plan to impose new 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The government meeting, attended by senior officials, also covered last week’s US-Japan summit and broader trade issues in the digital sector, according to the finance ministry.
Concerns have emerged over whether the US might seek to renegotiate the South Korea-US free trade agreement. Under the existing deal, agreed in 2007, South Korea avoided previous US steel tariffs by limiting exports to 70 percent of the average volume traded between 2015 and 2017. The finance ministry has yet to disclose any specific countermeasures.
During his first term in 2018, Donald Trump imposed a similar 25 percent tariff on all steel imports. The latest announcement signals a continuation of protectionist trade policies, with Trump also hinting at new reciprocal tariffs to address what he describes as unfair trade practices.
While the United States sources most of its steel from Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, South Korea remains a significant exporter. Seoul is now assessing its options as it prepares for potential economic and diplomatic challenges posed by Washington’s latest trade measures.
TikTok has introduced a new method for US Android users to download the app directly from its website, bypassing restrictions imposed by app stores.
The move follows a US law that took effect on 19 January, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban. Apple and Google have yet to reinstate the app in their stores.
President Donald Trump, who took office the day after the law was enacted, signed an executive order delaying enforcement by 75 days. Discussions over TikTok’s future are ongoing, with Trump stating a decision is expected this month.
The president also ordered the creation of a sovereign wealth fund, which could potentially acquire TikTok.
Concerns over data security have driven US officials to push for ByteDance to divest from TikTok. Critics argue that the ban threatens free speech, with advocates questioning claims about the company’s ties to China.
TikTok maintains that US user data is stored on Oracle-operated servers and that moderation decisions affecting American users are made domestically.
PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an automatic five-day extension after a global outage disrupted the PlayStation Network for around 18 hours on Friday and Saturday. Sony confirmed on Sunday that network services had been fully restored and apologised for the inconvenience but did not specify the cause of the disruption.
The outage, which started late on Friday, left users unable to sign in, play online games or access the PlayStation Store. By Saturday evening, Sony announced that services were back online. At its peak, Downdetector.com recorded nearly 8,000 affected users in the US and over 7,300 in the UK.
PlayStation Network plays a vital role in Sony’s gaming division, supporting millions of users worldwide. Previous disruptions have been more severe, including a cyberattack in 2014 that shut down services for several days and a major 2011 data breach affecting 77 million users, leading to a month-long shutdown and regulatory scrutiny.
T-Mobile will introduce its satellite-to-cell service in July for $15 per month, using SpaceX’s Starlink technology. The service aims to eliminate mobile dead zones and improve connectivity in remote areas. Shares of the wireless carrier rose 4% in premarket trading following the announcement.
Around 500,000 square miles of the US, previously unreachable by cell towers, will now have coverage. A beta trial began on Sunday, offering free access until launch. The service will be included in the Go5G Next plan at no extra cost, while other plans will get a 33% discount for trial participants.
T-Mobile is making the service available to all wireless users, including AT&T and Verizon customers, without requiring them to switch networks. The initial rollout will support text messaging via satellite, with voice and data features to be added later. The company made the announcement during the Super Bowl.
Apple and Google are working with T-Mobile to integrate satellite connectivity directly into their operating systems. Most smartphones from the past four years will support the new network, making it widely accessible.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini, has criticised the European Union’s AI regulations, claiming they are overly restrictive and hinder the ability of global companies to deploy AI technology in the region. His comments come ahead of the AI Action summit in Paris and reflect increasing frustration from private sector players with EU laws. Ezzat highlighted the complexity of navigating different regulations across countries, especially in the absence of global AI standards, and argued that the EU’s AI Act hailed as the most comprehensive worldwide, could stifle innovation.
As one of Europe’s largest IT services firms, Capgemini works with major players like Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services. The company is concerned about the implementation of AI regulations in various countries and how they affect business operations. Ezzat is hopeful that the AI summit will provide an opportunity for regulators and industry leaders to align on AI policies moving forward.
Despite the regulatory challenges, Ezzat spoke positively about DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm gaining traction by offering cost-effective, open-source models that compete with US tech giants. However, he pointed out that while DeepSeek shares its models, it is not entirely open source, as there is limited access to the data used for training the models. Capgemini is in the early stages of exploring the use of DeepSeek’s technology with clients.
As concerns about AI’s impact on privacy grow, European data protection authorities have begun investigating AI companies, including DeepSeek, to ensure compliance with privacy laws. Ezzat’s comments underscore the ongoing tension between innovation and regulation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
France is set to announce private sector investments totalling around 109 billion euros ($112.5 billion) in its AI sector at the Paris AI summit, according to President Emmanuel Macron. The investment package includes 20 billion euros from Canadian investment firm Brookfield and up to 50 billion euros from the United Arab Emirates, which will also fund a 1-gigawatt data centre.
Brookfield’s investment is expected to focus on developing data centre infrastructure, crucial for AI technology that requires massive amounts of energy to operate.With the demand for AI technology rising, Europe is aiming to secure necessary investments to meet the growing need for energy and infrastructure.
This comes amid global competition, as US President Donald Trump recently announced that companies like OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle would invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure over the next four years to ensure the US stays ahead in the global AI race.
OpenAI announced on Thursday that it is evaluating US states as potential locations for data centres supporting its ambitious Stargate project, which aims to secure the US’s lead in the global AI race. The project is seen as crucial for ensuring that AI development remains democratic and open, rather than falling under authoritarian control, according to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer.
Stargate, a venture backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and other investors, is set to receive up to $500 billion for AI infrastructure. A significant portion of this investment, $100 billion, will be deployed immediately, with the rest scheduled over the next few years. Texas has been designated as the flagship location for Stargate’s data centres. An initial site under construction in Abilene is expected to begin operations later this year.
The announcement follows the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model that challenges the traditional view that AI development requires large, specialised data centres. DeepSeek’s use of cheaper chips has raised concerns among investors, leading to a significant drop in tech stock values, including a record $593 billion loss for Nvidia, the leading AI chipmaker.
OpenAI is considering data centre locations in approximately 16 states, with plans to expand the Stargate network to five to ten campuses in the coming months.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing will visit France from Sunday until February 12 to attend the AI Action Summit as a special representative of President Xi Jinping. The summit will bring together representatives from nearly 100 countries to discuss the safe development of AI.
A foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said China is eager to strengthen communication and collaboration with other nations at the event. China also aims to foster consensus on AI cooperation and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Global Digital Compact.
Vice President JD Vance is leading the US delegation to the summit, but reports suggest that the US team will not include technical staff from the AI Safety Institute.
